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Netflix Not Working on Smart TV

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services around, and is available on almost every Smart TV on the market. However, sometimes the Netflix app does not work, making it hard to appreciate the full capabilities of your Smart TV. I have written this article to guide you through several troubleshooting methods you can use when Netflix doesn’t work.

Netflix will not work on a Smart TV if the servers are down or if your internet connection is poor. Some older Smart TVs are not compatible with Netflix, but those that are may have problems with outdated firmware. You could also try resetting your TV or reinstalling Netflix to clear any errors.

Watching Netflix movies

I will explain how you can resolve each of these issues below. Some Smart TVs may not have Netflix available, but there are also ways you can work around this to watch Netflix on your TV.

Smart TV Netflix Not Working

Disappointed man while watching blank TV

There are many reasons why Netflix won’t work on a Smart TV. However, it can usually be narrowed down to one of the following.

  • Issues with your network
  • Issues with the Netflix server
  • Issues with your Smart TV
  • Issues with the Netflix app
  • Issues with your Netflix account

You can find a number of troubleshooting methods throughout this article relating to specific issues you are having. Otherwise, there are general tips, listed below, that you should try any time Netflix is not working on your Smart TV.

  • Update the Netflix app
  • Update your Smart TV
  • Reinstall the Netflix app
  • Hard reset your TV (unplug from the power for 10 minutes)
  • Factory reset your TV

We have a few articles specific to a tv brand please visit the brand of smart tv you have: Sony TV, Sharp TV, Vizio TV, Hisense TV, TCL TV, LG TV, Samsung TV.

Smart TV Netflix Won’t Download / Install / Update

Confused man while watching TV

Netflix will not download, install or update if you do not have an internet connection or your signal is too weak. You can check if your internet is working by attempting to use the WiFi on another app or device. If it is not working, try the following troubleshooting tips.

  • Restart your modem and router (if you have one)
  • Move your modem/router closer to the TV (between 1-30 feet distance)
  • Ensure nothing is blocking the signal (thick walls, metal, water)
  • Turn off other wireless signals (Bluetooth, microwaves, radios, WiFi)
  • Use an Ethernet connection for faster and more reliable connection

Smart TV Won’t Play Netflix

Angry woman while watching glitching TV

Netflix will only play if your download speed is faster than the playback speed of the video you are watching. This is determined by the quality of the video. Below are the recommended download speeds to play Netflix.

  • 1.5MB/s to load Netflix (0.5MB/s at a minimum).
  • 3MB/s to stream Standard Definition content.
  • 5MB/s to stream High Definition content.
  • 25MB/s to stream 4K or Ultra HD content.

If your internet connection is not fast enough to support your preferred video quality, you can try troubleshooting your network using the methods mentioned above. Alternatively, you could stream Netflix at a lower video quality to match your available download speed. You can do this from a web browser, following the pathway below.

Account > Profile & Parental Controls > Playback Settings > Change

These settings will allow you to choose between ‘Low’, ‘Medium’, ‘High’ or ‘Auto’. If you are unsure of your network’s download speed, you can check this through websites such as speedtest.net. You can also check using the Netflix app, following the steps below.

Step 1: Open ‘Settings’ from the Netflix home screen.
Step 2: Select ‘Check your Network’.

Smart TV Netflix Not Showing Up/Available/Found

Confused man while holding a remote

There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to find Netflix on your TV. If your TV is compatible with the latest Netflix app, you should check the following.

  • Parental controls may be hiding the app. Try turning these off temporarily.
  • Try clearing the cache of the App Store or Google Play Store (if you can).
  • Check you are running the latest firmware on your Smart TV.

Unfortunately, some older Smart TVs are no longer compatible with Netflix. Netflix no longer supports the older versions of the app and the newer app is not available on these models.

However, some models may be able to download Netflix directly from the website. To do this, your TV needs to have a web browser. Once in your browser, type (or click) the following link to download Netflix from the Netflix website.

You may need to allow your Smart TV to download apps from a source other than its dedicated app store. For example, on an Android TV, you can do this by following the steps below.

Step 1: Navigate to ‘Settings > Security’.
Step 2: Select ‘Unknown Sources: Allow installation of apps from sources other than the Play Store’.
Step 3: Select ‘Ok’ to confirm this choice.

Smart TV Netflix Login/Sign-in Problems

Confused man while watching TV

Signing in is the first thing you need to do to access Netflix. Below are some of the common reasons for login problems, followed by additional ways you can sign in to Netflix.

  • Ensure you are using the correct email and password (case sensitive).
  • Check you have a strong internet connection, detailed above.
  • Perform a hard reset on your TV to clear any errors.

Reset your Password

On the login screen, you should see an option to reset your password, under ‘Forgot Password’. This will give you the option to reset your password via mobile or email. Whichever option you choose, you will receive instructions from that point to login with a new password.

Sign in from a Web Browser

You can sign in using another device to watch Netflix on your TV. This may only be a workaround, but will allow you to continue watching Netflix while you sort out your signing in issues. To do this, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Select the option ‘Sign in from Web’.
Step 2: Go to netflix.com/tv8 on your chosen device, or use the QR code.
Step 3: Enter the code from your TV and Netflix login details (if required).

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on August 10, 2021.

Smart TV Netflix No Picture

Angry woman while TV is glitching

Because Smart TVs have the Netflix app built into the TV, there is no chance that issues with the video are caused by a faulty connection. However, this is still a common issue and the solution is to simply restart your TV or Netflix app.

This issue appears to be a known bug that can be solved by keeping your app and TV up to date and attempting the troubleshooting methods mentioned at the beginning of this article. If, however, the image is frozen on a black screen, the issue might be with your internet connection and your video will be unable to load.

Netflix Not Casting to Smart TV

Angry man while watching TV

Most Smart TVs will allow you to cast your Netflix app from another device onto the TV to watch on the larger screen. Below are a number of things you can try if Netflix is not casting to your Smart TV.

  • Remove any special characters from the Chromecast name. Using special characters has been known to cause issues.
  • Check your particular Smart TV model supports Chromecast (some brands or older models are not compatible). If not, you can plug a Chromecast device into the TV’s HDMI port instead.
  • Ensure the TV, Netflix app and casting device (phone/tablet/laptop) are all up to date. Older versions of your phone/tablet/laptop may not support Chromecast.
  • Make sure all devices are on the same network and the network is connected.

How To Use Netflix.com/tv8 Login Code

To use the Netflix.com/tv8 login code, first, open the Netflix app on your TV or device. A code will be displayed. Then, on a separate device, visit Netflix.com/tv8, enter the code, and follow the instructions to log in. This code links your TV to your Netflix account for seamless streaming.

One common issue users might face is the code not working or being recognized. This can happen if the code has expired, as they are time-sensitive. To resolve this, refresh the Netflix app on your TV to generate a new code, and then quickly enter it on the website.

Another problem could be an error message indicating that the code is invalid. This could be due to a temporary glitch in the Netflix server or app. In such cases, restarting your TV and the device you’re using to enter the code can help. Ensure both devices have a stable internet connection to facilitate the login process.

Related Articles

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Netflix Frozen/Keeps Freezing/Crashing on Smart TV

Smart TV Netflix No Sound/Audio or Sound Out of Sync

Netflix on Smart TV Not Connecting, Opening or Loading

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on August 10, 2021.

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